7 Quick Takes Friday (set #217)

7 Quick Takes Friday the 13th

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal. Bishop Barron explains the symbolism of marriage. Chris Stefanick continues that point on the Church. Faithful Christianity is under strong and sustained attack (perhaps surprisingly for many) from the SPLC. How should we respond to NFL protests? Two videos on millennials – one serious and the other not so much.

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New Evangelists Monthly

Issue #58, October 2017, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from September. Contributing authors this month include: Stephen Korsman, Aimee O’Connell, Blythe Kaufman, Carolyn Astfalk, Melanie Jean Juneau, Chris Capolino, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Lawrence and Susan Fox, Tucker Cordani, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, Dennis McGeehan, Matt Marks, Kathleen Laplante, Robert Collins, Roxane Salonen, Lyn Mettler, Elizabeth Reardon, Vijaya Bodach, Michael Seagriff, Dn. Scott Dodge, Connie Rossini, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Fr. Stephen Morris, Dave Wanat, Fr. Nicholas Blackwell, Christine, De Maria, Susan Stabile, Rick Becker, Larry Peterson, Leslie Klinger, John Schroeder, Rick Rice, Ebeth Weidner, Fr. Adrian Danker, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Christian Miraglia, Rich Maffeo, Paul Roy, Ellen Kolb, Birgit Jones, Brian Gill, David Torkington, Bartimaeus Timeo, Claire McGarry, Barbara Hosbach, Lisa Ponchak, Julian Barkin, Bonnie Way, Tom Perna, Margaret Felice, Christina Nagy, Julia Harrell, Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Roy Cooney, Jeff Walker, Jim Hahn and David Cooney.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org.

Read Now

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Marriage and the Supper of the Lamb – Bishop Barron explains the Sacrament of Marriage:

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Continuing that theme, Chris Stefanick reminds us what the nature of the Church is:

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Are you a faithful Catholic or other Christian? Maybe you are pro-life or pro-family? If so, then to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) you are a hater and must be suppressed. They have the money and lawyers to do it too. Once a noble and effective anti-discrimination organization, they have today left those roots to become something else entirely. Catholicism.org among many others (e.g. here, here, here, here, here, here, here and a zillion more) chronicles their misdeeds.

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I like Fr. Mike’s videos, but respectfully disagree with him on the NFL protests. Briefly stated, his take is that we should look inside ourselves before forming an opinion. I strongly agree that my own path to holiness needs constant work (and by God’s grace, I pray that I am making progress).

Hugely blessed NFL players, regardless of my struggles, embarrass and disgrace themselves, their teams, and the sport when they spit on the graves of those who fought for the country the anthem directly represents. Their shameful actions are not merely vague “social justice” virtue signaling, but repudiation of the country for which so many suffered so much. Stretching Fr. Mike’s point a bit, it would be fair to ask what these richly entitled players have done for anyone other than themselves that justifies such disdain for their country.

It’s time for fans to stop rationalizing this behavior and stop supporting those who show such contempt and disrespect for them, their families, friends and neighbors who have actually served and sacrificed for their country. Self-examination is not the issue – this is objectively very wrong and readily discernible as such.

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Simon Sinek speaks on millennials in the workplace. He is an articulate, mostly factual observer. Generally good, but there are 2 huge issues IMHO. First, no hint whatsoever of the role of faith. Without that true happiness is simply impossible. Second, it is not the function of businesses to babysit millennials. Business will simply not hire or weed-out those who are unprepared for real life. Millennials expecting otherwise will be hugely disappointed.

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Humorist JP Sears portrays a millennial, his grasp on reality and preparation to live as an adult. It’s satire, but with more than just a touch of truth.


Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!


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